The first European Running Championships will take place in Brussels and Leuven, Belgium on 12-13 April 2025 and professional athletes will run shoulders with thousands of recreational runners at the start of the three races that weekend.
Pre-registering for what will be the biggest running festival in Belgium - with European titles in thr marathon, half marathon and 10km at stake - is possible now.
Why pre-register now?
Because interest is already huge and then you can confirm and pay your participation in a just few clicks before everybody else on 28 March 2024. The official registration will only open two weeks later, on 11 April. Moreover, only those who pre-register can sign up at the cheapest rate.
Until now, the marathon has been a regular part of the European Athletics Championships, the continent's premier athletics event, alongside all the other events in the main stadium. However, from 2025, the marathon will become a part of the brand-new European Running Championships.
Besides the classic 42.195km race, the half marathon and 10km will also get their own European Championships meaning there will be three championships on the road over one weekend.
The marathon starts at the Royal Palace in Brussels. An undulating course then leads the runners in a straight line to Leuven and after a 10km city loop, the finish is at Parkpoort, just as it was for the World Road and TT Cycling Championships in 2021.
The half marathon and 10km start from Leuven, cross the city and wider surrounding area before also finishing at Parkpoort.
“We are once again bringing a top sports event to Flanders, and to my own beautiful Flemish Brabant no less," commented the Flemish Minister for Sport Ben Weyts.
“In this way, we hope to get even more Flemish people moving because watching sports, makes sport happen.
"When a European Championships take place around the corner, many people will start itching to put on their own running shoes," added Weyts.
"These European Championships are also open to everyone: so, you will literally be able to run through Flemish Brabant alongside your idols. Running was already a low-threshold sport, and now it will be even more attractive.”
“Now that the course has been announced and pre-registration is open, these European Marathon Championships can really come to life among the people of Leuven,” said Leuven Alderman for Sport Johan Geleyns.
"It is very much in Leuven's spirit that these European Championships are both a top event for the best European athletes and a sports festival in which as many sports enthusiasts as possible can take part.
"Running is soothing and beneficial and hopefully we can encourage a lot of people through the races over 10km, half marathon and even the full marathon to take up this nice challenge in their own city and region. Whatever distance you run or even if you just come to cheer others on, these championships will be a unique experience.," added Geleyns.
Pre-registration & more info:
www.europeanrunningchampionships.com